International Women's Day | Longford's FeliSpeaks believes Covid-19 taught us that we can halt all of our systems to take care of ourselves #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

Nigerian Irish poet, performer and playwright, Felicia Olusanya, also known as Felispeaks, won over the hearts of the nation when she appeared on RTE’s Tommy Tiernan Show with her close friend, Tullamore’s Tolü Makay, last year.

Social media platforms lit up with praise from people who were bowled over by the pair’s talent, energy and enthusiasm, and many were calling for the state broadcaster to give them their own chat show.

“You need a lot of passion, a lot of grit, and a clear vision for each idea, so not necessarily for who you are as a person but every idea you have, work for it, fight for it and just do it,” were Feli’s words of wisdom when asked to impart some advice to other young women hoping to pursue a career in the arts industry.

Feli herself is currently featured on the Leaving Certificate English Curriculum with her poem ‘For Our Mothers' for examination year 2023. But she has faced her fair share of challenges as a female performer and playwright over the years.

“Mainly being underestimated,” she said.

“Another (challenge) would be attempted to be coerced or disrespected but I have overcome those issues by standing up for myself, being true to myself and my instincts.”

FeliSpeaks was also commissioned by RTE in 2020 with the poem ‘Still’ about Ireland’s response to the coronavirus.

The Covid-19 pandemic has really taken its toll on the arts industry but, now that restrictions have lifted, Feli feels there are a number of lessons to be learned from two years of lockdowns and caution.

“I think we’ve learned so much and I hope one of the things we have learned is that we are able to halt the systems that we have in place,” she said.

“The small ones, the big ones. We are able to halt them for the sake of taking care of ourselves and I think that even though it was a devastating experience to just watch the pandemic ravage the Globe, it also encourages the possibilities of futures we never considered before within reach if we so choose.

“It gave me a new hope that we are still capable of wrecking things, rebuilding things and strategising. I think that’s a nice thing that we can still pause for survival. That we can find new ways to survive.”

How will you mark International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8?

I’m marking this international women's day by celebrating myself. I will be a part of a photoshoot launching something secret and something fun for later on in the year!  

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, international women's day means celebrating all kinds of women from all walks of life. 

#BreakTheBias is the theme for International Women’s Day 2022. Applying the theme to your own life and career, what might it mean to you and what is your view or interpretation on the theme?

To me, #BreakTheBias means breaking the mold by doing something so wildly out of what your gender aspires to, that’s what breaking the bias is. I know I tend to do that in how I live my life. I have broken a couple of boundaries, challenged a couple of norms and I see where that takes me.

What are the challenges you have faced as a woman in your career so far and how did you overcome them?

Mainly being underestimated. Another would be attempted to be coerced or disrespected but I have overcome those issues by standing up for myself, being true to myself and my instincts.

What challenges do you feel the women of Longford face and what needs to change to address that?

For me, I would be lying if I said I know exactly what those challenges are in all their forms as I haven't lived in Longford for a couple of years but I do know one that I understood growing up was feeling enclosed, feeling like what the town had to offer was all there is to the world and wanting more out of it. So I would say that women of Longford are wanting more out of the space that they are growing up in and demanding that Longford grows with them as they grow

What advice do you have for other women who are trying to forge a career in the arts? 

You need a lot of passion, a lot of grit, and a clear vision for each idea, so not necessarily for who you are as a person but every idea you have, work for it, fight for it and just do it.

According to the World Economic Forum, gender parity will not be attained for almost a century. Do you agree? Could it be attained sooner?

I am not equipped enough to answer this question so I don’t know if we can do it any sooner but I do think that systems and structures that have taken millenia to cement will take probably just as long to dismantle.

Have you ever suffered at the hands of or know of a family member or friend that has suffered due gender bias?

Regarding a family member or a friend…probably. Surely. Almost certainly but I don’t have all of their experiences handy nor do I feel comfortable sharing them.

The murder of young teacher Ashling Murphy, the subsequent outpouring of grief, solidarity, vigils held worldwide and anger about it firmly put a spotlight on attitudes towards and violence against women. Have you witnessed change? What needs to change? 

I don't think I’ve witnessed a lot of change, I think we’ve witnessed an increase in shaming tactics towards the perpetrators but not necessarily a lot of functional change. I think there has been more space permitted and allowed over the years for the outcry of painful situations like Ashling’s murder but I don’t think it has attested to the change… It still happens. It still continues.

With Covid-19 pandemic restrictions lifting, what have we learned over the past two years and what are your hopes for the future? 

I think we’ve learned so much and I hope one of the things we have learned is that we are able to halt the systems that we have in place. The small ones, the big ones. We are able to halt them for the sake of taking care of ourselves and I think that even though it was a devastating experience to just watch the pandemic ravage the Globe, it also encourages the possibilities of futures we never considered before within reach if we so choose. It gave me a new hope that we are still capable of wrecking things, rebuilding things, and strategising. I think that’s a nice thing that we can still pause for survival. That we can find new ways to survive. 

Who are two ladies who have inspired you in your own life and explain why?

There are so many women in my life who have inspired me and those who did inspire me changed my life so to begin listing them now I would be here all day but it would include many aunties and school teachers, family and friends. I leave this space open to all of these women.

Check out our other IWD interviews with inspirational Longford women at the link below:

International Women's Day | Celebrating some of Longford's amazing women #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias